Compact electronic equipment

ABSTRACT

In compact card-like equipment having an IC chip and a power source cell, an equipment case has a multilayered structure of a pair of upper and lower sheets and a pair of upper and lower panels laminated on a frame, respectively. A flexible substrate and a paper-like cell as a primary cell are provided in the equipment case. The paper-like cell has a pair of positive and negative electrode sheets and a power generating unit interposed therebetween. A sealing member seals the peripheries of the electrode sheets of the paper-like cell. The paper-like cell is received in a receptacle space formed in the frame. The flexible substrate is received in another receptacle space formed in the frame. The electrode sheets of the paper-like cell are electrically connected to terminals of the flexible substrate by means of a film-like connecting member. This compact card-like electronic equipment such as a calculator is thin and compact in size.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 632,199 filed July 18, 1984,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,664, issued June 2, 1987.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compact electronic equipment which usesa paper-like cell as a power source.

Various types of compact card- or sheet-like electronic equipment suchas electronic calculators having a very small thickness of up to about 1mm have been recently developed. Compact electronic equipment of thistype generally has a solar cell having a thickness of about 0.2 mm as apower source cell.

However, with compact electronic equipment having a memory and/ortimepiece function, if a solar cell is used as a power source cell, thesolar cell cannot receive a sufficient amount of light at times such asat nighttime. The power source voltage cannot then be supplied, and thestored memory contents are lost or the timepiece function cannot beobtained. In view of this problem, compact electronic equipment of thistype must have a primary cell.

Such primary cells include button-shaped cells such as a mercury cell, asilver oxide cell, or a lithium cell. A button-shaped cell has aconsiderably large thickness as compared with a solar cell. For example,the thinnest button-shaped lithium cell available on the market todayhas a thickness of 1.6 mm. Compact electronic equipment having a memoryand/or timepiece function must use such a button-shaped cell andtherefore has a considerably larger thickness than compact electronicequipment using a solar cell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide compact electronicequipment which allows the use of an extremely thin power source cell,is compact in size and thin, and can have a memory and/or timepiecefunction.

The compact electronic equipment of the present invention comprisessheet-like upper case means and sheet-like lower case means having ashape substantially corresponding to the upper case means. The upper andlower case means define two receptacle spaces for receiving an IC chipand a paper-like cell. The paper-like cell has a pair of negative andpositive electrode sheets, a power generating unit interposed betweenthe electrode sheets, and a sealing member adhered at the peripheries ofthe pair of electrode sheets so as to provide a seal around the powergenerating unit. Conductive lead means is arranged to electricallyconnect the pair of electrode sheets of the paper-like cell to the ICchip. The periphery of the upper case means is fixed to that of thelower case means by a fixing means.

With this structure, in particular with the use of a thin paper-likecell as a primary cell, the compact electronic equipment can be renderedvery thin and compact in size. The compact electronic equipment can alsohave a memory and/or timepiece function, thereby providing multifunctionequipment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theconductive lead means comprises two film-like connecting members eachhaving a conductor formed on a plastic film. The film-like connectingmembers are adhered to the surface of the paper-like cell with anadhesive.

With the above-mentioned structure, the compact electronic equipment isrendered thinner and smaller. In particular, a good connection is madebetween the paper-like cell and a flexible substrate by means of verythin film-like connecting members.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the conductivelead means comprises two connecting members which are respectively fixedon the inner surfaces of the upper and lower case means. Each electrodesheet of the paper-like cell is in contact with a conductor of thecorresponding connecting member. An opening is formed in the lower casemeans so as to communicate with receptacle space. The paper-like cellreceived in the receptacle space can be removed from the equipmentthrough this opening.

The compact electronic equipment having this structure can simply andeasily receive the paper-like cell and allows easy replacement thereof.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, theconductive lead means comprises extended portions of the pair ofelectrode sheets of the paper-like cell. The extended portions are incontact with the inner surfaces of the upper and lower case means,respectively.

The compact electronic equipment having the above-mentioned structurecan be manufactured with ease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perpective view schematically showing a compact card-likeelectronic calculator according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the compact electroniccalculator shown in FIG. 1 along the line II--II therein;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the compact electroniccalculator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a paper-like cell received inthe compact electronic calculator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a paper-like cell and film-likeconnecting members which are received in the compact electroniccalculator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a card-likeelectronic calculator according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the compact electroniccalculator shown in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing modifications of the cellreceiving member;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a modification of the paper-likecell;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing the paper-like cell shownin FIG. 10 along the line XI--XI therein;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a compact card-likeelectronic calculator according to still another embodiment of thepresent invention, showing a paper-like cell to be received in thecalculator;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a compact card-like electroniccalculator according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the state wherein a paper-like cell is inserted intothe calculator; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the compact card-like electroniccalculator of FIG. 13, showing the paper-like cell when inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A compact card-like electronic calculator as compact electronicequipment according to an embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the outer appearance of the compact card-like electroniccalculator. The calculator is of the type which has a calculatingfunction with a memory, and a timepiece function.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the calculator of FIG. 1 along the lineII--II therein, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof. Thestructure of this calculator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1to 3.

The calculator has a case 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the case 10 has amultilayer structure wherein an upper panel 12 and an upper sheet 13 arelaminated on the upper surface of a frame 11, and a lower panel 14 and alower sheet 15 are laminated on the lower surface of the frame 11. Asshown in FIG. 3, a flexible film-like substrate 20, a very thin displaypanel 30 (e.g., a liquid crystal display panel), and a paper-like cell40 are further arranged inside the case 10. A spacer 50 having the sameouter shape as that of the flexible substrate 20 and made of a plasticfilm is placed on the upper surface of the flexible substrate 20. Theflexible substrate 20 has through holes for receiving an LSI chip 21 andchip parts 22 such as chip capacitors. The LSI chip 21 and the chipparts 22 are fitted in the holes in the flexible substrate 20 to bemounted thereon. A number of sets of stationary contacts 23 including apair of contacts 23A and 23B are formed at regular intervals on theupper surface of the flexible substrate 20. The spacer 50 has a numberof openings 51 which correspond to each stationary contact 23 on theflexible substrate 20. The spacer 50 has through holes 52 and 53. Thethrough hole 52 corresponds to the LSI chip 21, and the through holes 53correspond to the chip parts 22. The spacer 50 having the LSI chip 21and the chip parts 22 fitted therein is adhered to the flexiblesubstrate 20. The flexible substrate 20 and the spacer 50 are fittedwithin the frame 11 of the case 10. The frame 11 is formed by punching athin metal sheet of stainless steel or the like into a correspondingshape. The inside space of the frame 11 is divided into space A forreceiving the flexible substrate 20, space B for receiving the displaypanel 30, and space C for receiving the paper-like cell 40 to bedescribed later. The display panel 30 is fitted in the space B of theframe 11 and is arranged at one side of the flexible substrate 20.Connecting terminals 24 for the display panel are regularly arranged atone edge of the lower surface of the flexible substrate 20. As ahot-melt type electrically conductive adhesive is applied on theconnecting terminals 24, a film-like connector 31 is fixed to theconnecting terminals 24 by means of heating. Thus, the film-likeconnector 31 is electrically connected to the connecting terminals 24.The paper-like cell 40 is fitted in the space C and is arranged at theside opposite to the side of the flexible substrate 20. The upper andlower electrodes of the paper-like cell 40 are connected to cellconnecting terminals 25A and 25B by means of a pair of film-likeconnecting members 60. The cell connecting terminals 25A and 25B areformed at one edge of the upper and lower surfaces of the flexiblesubstrate 20.

Special care is taken to render the overall paper-like cell 40 thinner.FIG. 4 shows the structure of the paper-like cell 40.

Referring to FIG. 4, the paper-like cell 40 has negative and positiveelectrode sheets 41A and 41B on its upper and lower surfaces. Theelectrode sheets 41A and 41B are made of thin metal sheets such asaluminum or stainless steel sheets. The electrode sheets 41A and 41Boverlap each other through a holding frame 42. A power generating unit40A is arranged in a space defined by the electrode sheets 41A and 41Band the holding frame 42. The power generating unit 40A has a metallithium layer 43, a manganese dioxide layer 44, and a separator 45interposed therebetween as a partition wall. The separater 45 is anonwoven fabric made of polypropylene and impregnated with an organicelectrolyte. The electrode sheets 41A and 41B are adhered to each otherat the periphery of the holding frame 42 by an adhesive 46 as a sealingmember, which is made of a composite material containing both organicand inorganic materials. The paper-like cell 40 has a sealed structure.With this sealed structure, the paper-like cell 40 has considerablestrength against damage. The features of the structure of the paper-likecell 40 are that the entire outer surfaces of the electrode sheets 41Aand 41B serve as electrodes, and that the electrode sheets 41A and 41Bfunction as flat housing sheets. The power generation of the paper-likecell 40 is the same as that of a button-shaped lithium cell.

The thickness of the paper-like cell 40 will be described below. Thenegative and positive electrode sheets 41A and 41B respectively have athickness of 50μ, (microns), and the metal lithium layer 43 also has athickness of 50μ. The manganese dioxide layer 44 and the separator 45both have a thickness of 150μ. The paper-like cell as a whole has athickness of 450μ. In this case, the paper-like cell 40 is a rectanglehaving dimensions of about 45×25 mm. The average life of the paper-likecell 40 is about 2 years when it is used in a compact card-likeelectronic calculator having both memory and timepiece functions. Whenthe electronic circuit or display panel is improved in a calculator ofthis type, the life of the paper-like cell 40 can be prolonged further.

The connecting structure between the paper-like cell 40 and film-likeconnecting members 60 for connecting it to the flexible substrate 20will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

Each film-like connecting member 60 has a cell adhering portion 60Ahaving a slightly larger area than that of the paper-like cell 40, and aprojection 60B projecting from one side of the cell adhering portion60A. The film-like connecting member 60 has a plastic film as a basefilm. A conductor 61 extends on the base film from a positionsubstantially at the center of each cell adhering portion 60A toward theend of the projection 60B. An electrically insulated adhesive is appliedon the inner surface of the film-like connecting members 60 except forthe conductor 61, and a hot-melt type electrically conductive adhesiveis applied on the inner surfaces of the conductor 62. The hot-melt typeadhesive is molten at relatively low temperature such as about 130° C.and is solidified at room temperature. The conductor 61 has adouble-layer structure consisting of a metal-coated layer and acarbon-coated layer. The metal-coated layer is formed by coating aconductive metal such as gold, silver or copper on a correspondingsurface of a base film by means of deposition or printing such as screenprinting. The carbon-coated layer is formed from a conductive suspensionobtained by mixing a conductive powder such as carbon, a thermoplastichigh polymeric material, and a solvent, screen-printing the resultantmixture on the metal-coated layer, and heating the suspension at a lowtemperature (about 100° C.). The film-like connecting member 60 has athickness of 50 to 100μ.

Connection between the film-like connecting member 60 and the paper-likecell 40 will be described below. The entire upper and lower surfaces ofthe paper-like cell 40, that is, the overall outer surfaces of thenegative and positive electrode sheets 41A and 41B are flashed with aconductive metal such as nickel. Then, the outer surfaces of theelectrode sheets 41A and 41B are smoothened and rendered dense. The celladhering portions 60A of the film-like connecting members 60 are placedon the outer surfaces of the electrode sheets 41A and 41B. After bendingthe peripheral portions of the cell adhering portions 60A on the sidesurfaces of the paper-like cell 40, the cell adhering portions 60A areheated and pressed. Then, the film-like connecting members 60 areadhered on the upper and lower surfaces of the paper-like cell 40,thereby connecting the film-like connecting members 60 to the paper-likecell 40.

With this connecting structure between the paper-like cell 40 and thefilm-like connecting members 60, no current leakage from the paper-likecell 40 to the frame 11 will occur. This is because the side, upper andlower surfaces of the paper-like cell 40 are completely covered with thebase films of the film-like connecting members 60. When the film-likeconnecting members 60 are adhered to the paper-like cell 40, no thermaldamage to the cell 40 will occur. This is because the film-likeconnecting members 60 can be adhered to the paper-like cell 40 by ahot-melt type adhesive which can be used at low temperatures. Due to thesmoothness of the upper and lower surfaces of the paper-like cell 40which is obtained by flashing, adhesion between the film-like connectingmembers 60 and the paper-like cell 40 is strong. Although the upper andlower surfaces of the paper-like cell 40 are flashed in the aboveembodiment, this is not essential to the present invention. Furthermore,in this embodiment, in order to allow contact with the electrode sheets41A and 41B of the paper-like cell 40, the conductors 61 of thefilm-like connecting member 60 are formed only at portions of the basefilms. However, if a conductive adhesive is applied to the entiresurfaces of the base films, the film-like connecting members 60 may berendered conductive over the entire surfaces which are respectivelybrought into contact with the entire surfaces of the electrode sheets41A and 41B of the paper-like cell 40.

The film-like connecting members 60 are adhered to the flexiblesubstrate 20 by heating and pressing the projections 60B onto theterminals 25A and 25B of the flexible substrate 20. Thus, electricalconnection between the electrodes of the paper-like cell 40 and theterminals 25A and 25B of the flexible substrate 20 is accomplished.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper and lower panels 12 and 14of the case 10 are made of metal sheets such as stainless steel orberyllium steel sheets. The upper panel 12 has openings 121 respectivelycorresponding to the openings 51 of the spacer 50, and a hole 122 forreceiving the upper portion of the display panel 30. The upper panel 12also has recesses 123, 124 and 125 formed by etching in its lowersurface. The recesses 123 and 124 receive the upper portions of the LSIchip 21 and the chip parts 22 which project above the spacer 50. Therecess 125 receives the upper portions of the film-like connectingmember 60 adhered to the upper surface of the paper-like cell 40. Thelower surface of the upper panel 12 is adhered to the upper surface ofthe frame 11, so that the upper panel 12 is formed integrally with theframe 11. The spacer 50 is adhered to the lower surface of the upperpanel 12.

The lower panel 14 has in its upper surface a recess 141 formed byetching. The recess 141 receives the lower film-like connecting member60 adhered to the lower surface of the paper-like cell 40. The lowerpanel 14 is adhered to the lower surface of the frame 11. Adhesionbetween the lower panel 14 and the frame 11 is performed after a filler16 is filled. More specifically, after the flexible substrate 20 havingthe display panel 30 and the paper-like cell 40 connected thereto isadhered to the lower surface of the spacer 50, and the display panel 30and the paper-like cell 40 are fitted in the frame 11, the filler 16 isapplied inside the frame 11 from the lower surface of the flexiblesubstrate 20. The lower panel 14 is adhered not only to the frame 11 butalso to the flexible substrate 20 through the filler 16. The filler 16serves to fix in position the LSI chip 21 and the chip parts 22 mountedon the flexible substrate 20, the display panel 30 and the paper-likecell 40. The filler 16 can be a quick-dry liquid adhesive which can behardened at room temperature such as an acrylic- or epoxy-based two-partadhesive. The adhesive is dripped onto the lower surface of the flexiblesubstrate 20 having its upper surface facing downward.

The outer surface of the case 10 obtained by adhering the frame 11 andthe upper and lower panels 12 and 14 is covered with an outer member 17so as to quarantee a complete hermetic seal of the case. The outermember 17 is formed by applying a liquid adhesive of the same type asthat used for the filler 16, hardening the adhesive, and cutting anyexcess portion of the hardened adhesive layer.

The upper and lower sheets 13 and 15 of the case 10 are made of aplastic film and are respectively adhered to the surfaces of the upperand lower panels 12 and 14. In the upper sheet 13, keyboard sections 131designating ten keys, character keys or function keys are printed on alower surface of a transparent plastic film, and the overall portionexcept for a display portion 132 is printed with a non-transparentpaint. The display panel 30 is adhered to the lower surface of thedisplay portion 132 of the upper sheet 13 by a transparent adhesive.Contact bases 133 to be inserted in the respective openings 121 of theupper panel 12 are formed on the lower surfaces of the keyboard sections131 by screen printing or the like. Movable contacts 134 are mounted onthe lower surfaces of the contact bases 133 by printing carbon ink orthe like. The movable contacts 134 are pressed onto the stationarycontacts 23 of the flexible substrate 20 when the operator depresses thekeyboard sections 131 of the upper sheet 13 downward so as toelastically deform them. The operation switches therefore areconstituted by the movable contacts 134 and the stationary contacts 23.

The compact card-like electronic calculator having the above-mentionedstructure can be rendered very thin for the following reasons. That is,a very thin paper-like cell 40 is used, the paper-like cell 40 isarranged at the side opposite to that of of the flexible substrate 20,and connection between the paper-like cell 40 and the flexible substrate20 is achieved through the film-like connecting members 60, so that notmuch height is required for connecting the paper-like cell 40 to theflexible substrate 20.

A total thickness of the calculator of this embodiment will bedescribed. The flexible substrate 20, the spacer 50 and the filler 16respectively have thickness of 200μ, 100μ, and 130μ. The upper panel 12,the upper sheet 13, the lower panel 14, and the lower sheet 15respectively have thickness of 150μ, 70μ, 150μ, and 50μ. Therefore, thecalculator has a total thickness of 850μ which is substantiallyequivalent to that of a compact card-like electronic calculator using asolar cell. The thickness of the frame 11 of the case 10 is defined by aspace between the upper and lower panels 12 and 14. The width of thespace has a size corresponding to the sum of the thickness of theflexible substrate 20, the spacer 50, and the filler 16, i.e., 430μ. Inthis embodiment, the paper-like cell 40 having a thickness of 450μ isused. In this case, the overall thickness of the cell portion includingthe thickness of the upper and lower film-like connecting members 60 is550 to 590μ. This thickness is greater than the width of the spacebetween the upper and lower panels 12 and 14, i.e., 430μ. However, ashas been described above, the recesses 125 and 141 are formed in thelower and upper surfaces of the upper and lower panels 12 and 14,respectively. These recesses 125 and 141 receive therein the upper andlower portions of the film-like connecting members 60 and the paper-likecell 40. Therefore, the paper-like cell 40 can be received between theupper and lower panels 12 and 14 without increasing the thickness of theequipment.

In this embodiment, the case 10 comprises a multilayer structureconstituted by the frame 11, the upper and lower sheets 13 and 15, andthe upper and lower panels 12 and 14. The upper sheet 13 may be formedintegrally with the upper panel 12. The lower sheet 15 need not be used.

A compact card-like electronic calculator which allows replacement ofthe paper-like cell 40 according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described.

FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively are a sectional view and an explodedperspective view of this calculator, which are similar to that in FIGS.2 and 3. As in the case of the calculator shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, thecalculator shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a calculation function with amemory, and a timepiece function. Like the calculator shown in FIGS. 1to 3, this calculator uses a thin paper-like cell and is therefore thin.The same reference numerals as in FIGS. 2 and 3 denote the same parts inFIGS. 6 and 7.

The difference between the structures of the first and secondembodiments of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.

A press portion 126 for pressing a first connecting member 70 to bedescribed later is formed at the left portion of the upper panel 12 inFIG. 7. The press portion 126 has a pair of parallel slits 126A formedin the upper panel 12, and a bent portion 126B formed by slightlybending downward the portion between the slits 126A. At the pressportion 126, the central portion of the bent portion 126B is elasticallyprojected downward from the lower surface of the upper panel 12, and theprojecting portion presses the connecting portion 70 downward.

This first connecting member 70 is adhered to that portion of the lowersurface of the upper panel 12 which corresponds to the press portion 126of the upper panel 12. The first connecting member 70 has an insulatingsheet 70A and a conductor 70B formed on the lower surface of theinsulating sheet 70A. The conductor 70B electrically connects thenegative electrode sheet 41A of the paper-like cell 40 to the connectingterminal 25A on the flexible substrate 20.

A press portion 142 of the lower panel 14 is formed at that portion ofthe lower panel 14 which is opposed to the press portion 126 of theupper panel 16. As in the case of the press portion 126 of the upperpanel 12, the press portion 142 has a pair of parallel slits 142A and abent portion 142B and elastically presses a second connecting member 72upward. The second connecting member 72 is adhered to that portion ofthe upper surface of the lower panel 14 which corresponds to the pressportion 142 of the lower panel 14. As in the case of the firstconnecting member 70, the second connecting member 72 has an insulatingsheet 72A and a conductor 72B formed on the upper surface of theinsulating sheet 72A. The conductor 72B electrically connects a positiveelectrode sheet 41B of the paper-like cell 40 to the connecting terminal25B on the lower surface of the flexible substrate 20.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in thestructure of the frame 11. As shown in FIG. 7, the frame 11 has one openside which corresponds to space C for receiving the paper-like cell 40.The frame 11 has a recess 112 extending near one partitioning projection111, and a through hole 113 extending in the recess 112. A release pin80 can be detached from the through hole 113.

A cell receiving member 90 is detachably mounted in the space C from theopen side of the frame 11. The cell receiving member 90 for receivingthe paper-like cell 40 is made of stainless steel and has a rectangularshape. The cell receiving member 90 has a projection 91 at a portioncorresponding to the recess 112. When the cell receiving member 90 ismounted in the space C, the projection 91 is detachably engaged in therecess 112. When the releasing pin 80 is inserted in the through hole113, the projection 91 is disengaged from the recess 112. An insulatingcoating 92 covers at least the portion of the cell receiving member 90which is brought into contact with the paper-like cell 40 when thepaper-like cell 40 is received in the cell receiving member 90. It ispreferable that the insulating coating 92 covers the allover surfaces ofthe cell receiving member 90. The insulating coating 92 serves toinsulate the upper and lower electrode sheets 41A and 41B from eachother. Insulating coatings (not shown) are respectively formed on theportions of the lower surface of the upper panel 12 and the uppersurface of the lower panel 14 corresponding to the upper and lowersurfaces of the paper-like cell 40, except for the first connectingmember 70.

The paper-like cell 40 has a structure similar to that of the firstembodiment. However, since the paper-like cell 40 is received in thecell receiving member 90, the size of the paper-like cell 40 is smallerthan that of the first embodiment and is 40×20 mm.

Mounting of the paper-like cell 40 in the card-like electroniccalculator will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

The paper-like cell 40 is placed inside the cell receiving member 90.Thereafter, the cell receiving member 90 is inserted into the space C ofthe frame 11 from the open side of the frame 11. At this time, theprojection 91 of the cell receiving member 90 is engaged in the recess112 of the frame 11, and the cell receiving member 90 is held in thespace C of the frame 11. At the same time, the upper and lower electrodesheets 41A and 41B of the paper-like cell 40 are respectively broughtinto contact with the conductors 70B and 72B of the first and secondconnecting members 70 and 72 which are adhered on the lower and uppersurfaces of the upper and lower panels 12 and 14. The electricalconnection between the paper-like cell 40 and the flexible substrate 20is achieved by the connecting members 70 and 72.

In order to replace the paper-like cell 40 with a new one, the releasepin 80 is inserted into the through hole 113 from the side of thecompact card-like electronic calculator, that is, from the side of theframe 11, so as to press inward the projection 91 of the cell receivingmember 90. Then, the projection 91 is disengaged from the recess 112.The cell receiving member 90 can then be pulled out from the space C ofthe frame 11, thereby allowing replacement of the paper-like cell 40.

In the embodiment described above, the cell receiving member 90 forreceiving the paper-like cell 40 has a rectangular shape. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. A different cell receivingmember from the cell receiving member 90 shown in FIG. 7 is shown inFIGS. 8 and 9.

A cell receiving member 190 shown in FIG. 8 has a frame portion 191different in shape from that of the cell receiving member 90 shown inFIG. 7, and a bottom plate 192 mounted below the frame portion 191. Anextension 193 of the bottom plate 192 extends from an end thereof. Aninsulating coating (not shown) covers the upper surface of the bottomplate 192 and on the inner wall surface of the frame portion 191. Aconductor 194 is formed on the insulating coating. One end of theconductor 194 is in contact with the positive electrode sheet 41B of thepaper-like cell 40 received in the cell receiving member 190, and theother end thereof is in contact with the connecting terminal 25B on thelower surface of the flexible substrate 20 when the cell receivingmember 190 is inserted in the space C. In this manner, the paper-likecell 40 and the flexible substrate 20 are electrically connected witheach other. In this case, a press portion 195 similar to the pressportion 141 of the above embodiment is formed at the extension 193 ofthe bottom plate 192 so as to be in contact with the terminal 25B of theflexible substrate 20. A projection 196 similar to the projection 91 ofthe above embodiment is formed on one side of the frame portion 191.

In the cell receiving member 190 according to the modification describedabove, the conductor 194 is formed on the bottom plate 192 through theinsulating coating. Therefore, the second connecting member 72 and thepress portion 142 of the lower panel 14 need not be used. A comparedwith the calculator of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, thedetachable reception and electrical connection of the paper-like cell 40can be reliably performed.

FIG. 9 shows a cell receiving member 290 according to anothermodification. The cell receiving member 290 is formed by bending asingle stainless plate so as to sandwich the paper-like cell 40therebetween. The cell receiving member 290 has upper and lower portions291 and 292. Clamp portions 293 for clamping the paper-like cell 40 areformed in the upper and lower portions 291 and 292 so as to oppose eachother. Extensions 294 and 295 respectively extend from the sides of theupper and lower portions 291 and 292. A pair of clamp portions 296 areformed in the projections 294 and 295 so as to be in contact with theterminals 25A and 25B of the flexible substrate 20. Insulating coating(not shown) covers the inner surfaces of the upper and lower portions291 and 292. Conductors (not shown) similar to the conductors 61 of thefilm-like connecting members 60 as shown in FIG. 5 are formed on theseinsulating coatings. A projection 297 corresponding to the recess 112 ofthe frame 11 is formed in the cell receiving member 290. When the cellreceiving member 290 of this modification is used, the press portions126 and 142 of the upper and lower panels 12 and 14 and the first andsecond connecting members 70 and 72 need not be used.

Still another modification of a paper-like cell for a compact electronicequipment according to the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

A paper-like cell 240 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 has a power generatingunit similar to that in the paper-like cell 40 shown in FIG. 4. Thepower generating unit 240A of the paper-like cell 240 has a pair ofelectrode sheets 241A and 241B. It also has a metal lithium layer 243, amanganese dioxide layer 244 and a separator 245 which are formed betweenthe electrode sheets 241A and 241B.

However, the paper-like cell 240 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is differentfrom the paper-like cell 40 shown in FIG. 4 in the following respects.First, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the electrode sheets241A and 241B have extensions 241C and 241D which extend sideways fromthe corners of the rectangles of the sheets 241A and 241B. Theseextensions 241C and 241D connect the paper-like cell 240 to theterminals 25A and 25B of the flexible substrate 20 and therefore servethe same purpose as the film-like connecting member 60 in the firstembodiment.

Second, in this embodiment, a sealing member 246 corresponding to theadhesive 46 in FIGS. 4 and 5 extends outward from the peripheries of theelectrode sheets 241A and 241B so as to seal the space therebetween. Thesealing member 246 is made of a composite material containing bothorganic and inorganic materials. When the frame 11 made of a metalsurrounds the side surfaces of the paper-like cell 240, this sealingmember 246 serves to prevent short-circuiting of the electrode sheets241A and 241B.

When this paper-like cell 240 is used, the first and second connectingmembers 70 and 72 and the receiving member 90, 190 or 290 are notrequired and the paper-like cell 240 can be easily mounted inside thespace C of the calculator. In addition, this modification of thepaper-like cell 240 may be applied to either of the first and secondembodiments.

FIG. 12 shows still another embodiment of the present invention whereinan opening for receiving the paper-like cell as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11is formed in a case 10. A paper-like cell 340 shown in FIG. 12 issimilar to that shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. However, the former isdifferent from the latter in that in the former, extending portions 341Cand 341D extend from substantially central portions of the opposingsides of a pair of electrode sheets 341A and 341B. The extendingportions 341C and 341D are smaller than the extending portions 241C and241D and extend for a distance substantially the same as that of asealing member 346. The sealing member 346 has a notch 346Acorresponding to the extending portions 341C and 341D. In thisembodiment, openings 101 and 102 are formed extending in a lower sheet15 and a lower panel 14, respectively, of the case 10. The opening 102of the lower panel 14 has a size which is large enough to receive thepaper-like cell 340 therein and is slightly smaller than the opening 101of the lower sheet 15. A cover member 103 for covering these openings101 and 102 is illustated at the upper portion of FIG. 12. The covermember 103 has a sheet portion 103A and a panel portion 103B having ashape corresponding to these openings 101 and 102. An adhesive isapplied on the lower surface of the sheet portion 103A and then thepanel portion 103B is fixed to the sheet portion 103A.

When the paper-like cell 340 as described above is fitted into the spaceC, and the cover member 103 is fixed in the exposed portion of the lowerpanel 14, the openings 101 and 102 are covered with the cover member 103and the paper-like cell 340 is received in the case 10. When theadhesion between the cover member 103 and the exposed portion of thelower panel 14 is set to be weak and these members are able to beseparated, the paper-like cell 340 can be easily replaced. In thisembodiment, the paper-like cell 340 can be easily detached through theopenings 101 and 102 formed in the lower sheet 15 and the lower panel 14of the case 10 after the case 10 is assembled.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show openings for allowing insertion of a paper-likecell 340 into the case therethrough according to still anotherembodiment of the present invention. Openings 201 and 202 shown in FIGS.13 and 14 are smaller than the openings 101 and 102 shown in FIG. 12.Since the paper-like cell 340 has slight elasticity, it bends toward thedirection opposite to the openings 202 when it is inserted into thespace C. Therefore, it can be inserted into the space C through theseopenings 201 and 202, as shown in FIG. 13. The paper-like cell 340received in the space C in this manner is pressed by a press portion 203formed in a lower sheet 15 and a lower panel 14, as shown in FIG. 14. Acover member (not shown) as one shown in FIG. 14 is used to cover theopenings 201 and 202. In order to allow replacement of the paper-likecell 340 received in the space C, a sealing member 346 of the paper-likecell 340 has a notch 346A.

In this embodiment, utilizing the elasticity of the paper-like cell 340,the paper-like cell 340 can be easily mounted in and removed from thecase 10 through the openings 201 and 202 after the assembly of the case10.

The present invention is not limited to the card-like electroniccalculators as described above, and can be applied to a wide variety ofcompact electronic equipment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compact electronic device, comprising:upper case means; lower case means having an area substantially corresponding with that of said upper case means; frame means interposed between said upper and lower case means and having a cut-out section and a shape substantially corresponding to peripheral edges of said upper and lower case means, said frame means and said upper and lower case means together defining first and second receptacle spaces, said cut-out section also defining an opening which communicates with said second receptacle space and which is open to an outside of said lower case means; an electronic component arranged to be located in said first receptacle space; a battery cell having upper and lower electrodes, said upper and lower electrodes being substantially flat; a cell receiving member having a thin frame portion which is shaped substantially corresponding to the peripheral edge of said battery cell, said cell receiving member with said battery cell fitted therein being adapted to be detachably mounted in said second receptable space through and cut-out section; conductive lead means for electrically connecting said upper and lower electrodes of said battery cell to said electronic component; and fixing means for fixing said upper and lower case means together with said frame means with said frame means being interposed between said upper and lower case means.
 2. The compact electronic device of claim 1, wherein said frame portion has a recess in said second receptacle space, and said cell receiving member has a projection which is engaged with said recess.
 3. A compact electronic device, comprising:upper case means; lower case means having an area substantially corresponding with that of said upper case means; frame means interposed between said upper and lower case means and having a cut-out section and a shape substantially corresponding to peripheral edges of said upper and lower case means, said frame means and said upper and lower case means together defining first and second receptacle spaces, said cut-out section also defining an opening which communicates with said second receptacle space and which is open to an outside of said lower case means; an electronic component arranged to be located in said first receptacle space; a battery cell having upper and lower electrodes, said upper and said lower electrodes being substantially flat; a cell receiving member for receiving said battery cell and being adapted to be detachably mounted in said second receptacle space with said battery cell fitted therein through said cut-out section; conductive lead means for electrically connecting said upper and lower electrodes of said battery cell to said electronic component; and adhesive means for adhering the peripheries of said upper and lower case means together with said frame means with said frame means being interposed between said upper and lower case means.
 4. The compact electronic device of claim 3, wherein said electronic component is adhered to one of said upper and lower case means.
 5. The compact electronic device of claim 3, wherein said frame means and said cell receiving member each include an engaging section, respectively, for engaging each other when said cell receiving member is mounted in said second receptacle space.
 6. The compact electronic device of claim 5, wherein said cell receiving member has substantially the same thickness as said frame means.
 7. The compact electronic device of claim 6, wherein said cell receiving member includes a frame portion, and a bottom plate mounted below said frame portion.
 8. The compact electronic device of claim 7, wherein said cell receiving member has a conductor on said bottom plate for contacting one of said upper and lower electrodes of said battery cell.
 9. A compact electronic device, comprising:an electronic component; a battery cell having upper and lower electrodes, said upper and lower electrodes being substantially flat; a cell receiving member having at least a frame portion which is shaped substantially corresponding to the peripheral edge of said battery cell for receiving said battery cell, said cell receiving member having an engaging section; a first case means; a second case means having an area substantially corresponding with that of said first case means, said first and second case means each defining a receptacle space which is formed by surrounding peripheral edges thereof for receiving and storing said electronic component and said cell receiving member, said second case means having an opening which communicates with said receptacle space and which is open to an outside of said second case means through one of said peripheral edges, and engaging means for engaging said engaging section of said cell receiving member when said cell receiving member is mounted in said receptacle space; conductive lead means for electrically connecting said upper and lower electrodes of said battery cell to said electronic component; and fixing means for fixing the peripheries of said first and second case means relative to one another.
 10. The compact electronic device of claim 9, wherein said fixing means is an adhesive.
 11. The compact electronic device of claim 10, wherein said electronic component is adhered to one of said first and second case means.
 12. The compact electronic device of claim 9, wherein said cell receiving member includes a bottom plate mounted below said frame portion.
 13. The compact electronic device of claim 12, wherein said cell receiving member includes a conductor on said bottom plate for contacting one of said upper and lower electrodes of said battery cell.
 14. The compact electronic device of claim 9, wherein said fixing means fixes said first and second case means with said first and second case means superposed on one another. 